The final straw

[RobinP]

I exoect this thread to be closed forthwith but this is my final effort before I stop feeding the birds altogether and take down the nestboxes, I've had it with birds being taken at the rate of at least once a day




Robin

P.S. The cat in the picture is ours and couldn't catch a cold let alone any living creature.

[triops]

It's difficult to be selective! Feeding birds concentrates them and food in one place and gives feeding opportunities to all sorts of other creatures, including sparrowhawks, kestrels and other birds of prey, mice, rats, voles, rooks, crows, jackdaws, magpies, squirrels and others. Includes cats, of course, which are part of the whole scheme of things.
If the interplay of all these animals distresses you then stop. Otherwise try to enjoy all the realities of the wonderful array of life around us.

[RobinP]

I wouldn't mind if a Sparrowhawk took a bird each day but pets can be controlled (well, sort of). If other people can't be bothered I'll not keep providing them with a free meal.

Cheers

Robin

[yorkieuk]

Is it not a bit hypocritical to own a cat and moan about them?

[fluff11]

my theory is- the more birds you attract the more pairs of eyes they have to spot danger, i have 6 cats and very very rarely do they catch birds,but they do catch rats,weasels,hares,bats rabbits.

[the poacher]

Originally Posted by RobinP

I exoect this thread to be closed forthwith but this is my final effort before I stop feeding the birds altogether and take down the nestboxes, I've had it with birds being taken at the rate of at least once a day




Robin

P.S. The cat in the picture is ours and couldn't catch a cold let alone any living creature.

put the cats in the pen

[the poacher]

Originally Posted by fluff11

my theory is- the more birds you attract the more pairs of eyes they have to spot danger, i have 6 cats and very very rarely do they catch birds,but they do catch rats,weasels,hares,bats rabbits.

you got 6 cats that catch rats,weasels(many people on these forums have never seen one),hares(yours are not normal cats,many years ago when i was a lad we kept greyhounds they had a job to catch hares)bats and rabbits but they very rarely catch birds and i bet you feed them twice a day as well.time you wormed them.just wondering,do they bring these creatures home to you,do you feel any remorse, especially for the poor little weasel and bats

[the poacher]

there's a post here somewhere about catapults,think me going to review my status on this one, where's the key to my shed.

[twitchyt]

Nature is cruel and sad, but generally balanced, though for many birds through loss of habitat in the main, but cats are in abundance, many people multipe cat owners, self included, luckily my 13yr old has never once been seen with a bird, she hunts moths, the 11yr old did hunt a bit but now seems to be past it, though l do try to help the birds, by putting 2 collars bells and tags on their collars, slows them down a bit and warns the birds quicker, also put all branch and twig cuttings under shrubbery hedges to also slow the cats
Some people say its nature, well so are earthquakes, etc, but we would like warnings and cats unlike wild animals dont eat their kills, for the cat haters just sqirt water at them when seen and theyll soon get the message about your garden, no need to harm them. After all we humans are the biggest threat to birds and all wildlife, prolific and voractious, ps please exscuse sermon, just my feelings.
l have noticed over the last few weeks l am getting very few of the usual birds in the garden, re bluetits,gt tits, longtail, blackbirds, robins, wren, usually a lot of each species, now only the odd one passing despite lots of food, a friend said the same for her garden, is it due to nesting, as l thought they,d be hungrier. The rspb are asking watchers to make a note of birds in garden this week, online survey form to download.

[Pipa]

i like your netting around your feeding pole, that should keep the cats from nabbing the birds off the feeder sometimes we just have to make a choice and enjoy the good parts of nature and accept the bad that comes with it.. the more birds we encourage the more predators will come with it